About Us

The Appalachian Prosperity Project (APP) is a collaborative partnership among the University of Virginia, UVa's College at Wise, the Coalfield region, the private sector, and the state to advance education, health, and economic prosperity in Southwest Virginia. The APP is a university-community-industry partnership that uses a systems approach to integrate education, health, and business development. Each component of this system is important in attracting new employers to this emerging region, maintaining the competitiveness of existing companies, and creating new ventures.

Appalachians Building Capacity Building the pipeline for talent

Appalachians Building Capacity (ABC) is developing an educated workforce through innovative pre-K to 12 programs such as early language and literacy programs in the homes of infants and toddlers, professional development for early childhood teachers and innovative college and career advising.

Virginia College Advising Corps addresses the widening gap in college access for low income, first generation, and under-represented groups through college advising. The Corps places recent UVa-Wise graduates in two high schools in Southwest Virginia to work alongside counselors and other college access organizations.

Healthy Appalachia Institute To improve health outcomes

Healthy Appalachia Institute brings together health providers, employers, higher education, and government to build a healthy workforce and increase access to healthcare. We are using creative and innovative methods, including new approaches to telemedicine, to bring the resources of UVa’s Health System and surrounding healthcare providers to the people in Southwest Virginia.

Program Lead

Some of our current initiatives include:

Clinch River Valley Initiative
Since fall 2010 UVa’s Institute for Environmental Negotiation and community leaders have convened a series of meetings with 75 stakeholders from 30 different state and local agencies to explore new ideas for building local economies that leverage the Clinch River Valley’s unique assets.

My Southwest VA Opportunity
Southwest Virginia communities work together to build a prosperous region through targeted support of entrepreneurship.

Academic Research Building the pipeline for talent

The APP Research Center provides evidence-based research to Planning Districts 1 and 2 to guide community economic development strategy, inform priorities, assess impact, and create a compelling asset-based narrative that helps attract new jobs to the region.